Leipsic native Schroeder guides Olentangy Orange to D-I crown

DIVISION I ORANGE 28ST. XAVIER 14CANTON – The 2025 Division I state football championship has some local and area flavor to it with Leipsic native Wes Schroeder guiding Olentangy Orange to a 28-14 win over Cincinnati St. Xavier in Friday's big school final, and Patrick Henry and University of Findlay grad Eric Krauss being a member of the Pioneers' staff.Friday's title capped a 15-0 season for Schroeder and the Pioneers.Schroeder is in his second season as Orange head coach. He also coached at Allen East and Granville High Schools, compiling a 61-18 record.Krauss was a walk-on at UF, and ended up being a three-year starter at safety. He was also a volunteer coach at his alma mater, including the 2005 season when the Patriots won the Division V state championship. DIVISION IIIWATTERSON 30TOL. CEN. CATH. 0CANTON – Something had to give when Columbus Bishop Watterson and Toledo Central Catholic met for the thirdStraight year for the Division III state football championship.It wasn't Watterson's defense that gave, though, as the Eagles shutdown TCC's offense and forced four turnovers in scoring a 30-0 victory Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.In a dominating defensive display, Watterson limited Central Catholic to 24 yards rushing and intercepted TCC quarterback Ali Beydoun four times in winning a second straight D-III crown.Central Catholic's defense also picked off four passes, but the Irish could not capitalize and win their third state title in the last four years and sixth overall. DIVISION IVGLENVILLE 45SHELBY 7CANTON – Jaquan Gibson returned a punt a state championship game record 92 yards to put Cleveland Glenville on the board and the Tarblooders never slowed down in beating Shelby 45-7 on Friday in the Division IV final.Glenville (12-3) improved to 3-2 all-time in state championship games. The Tarblooders won state titles in 2022 and 2023 and were runners-up in 2009 and 2013.Shelby (14-1) finished runner-up after making its first appearance in a football state championship game.Shelby would answer Gibson's big play and tie the game on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Michael Shepherd.Glenville scored 17 points in the final 10 minutes of the half, though, with Chris Newell scoring on 14- and 6-yard runs. Arvell Nelson threw two touchdown passes for Glenville in the second half.Defensively, Glenville limited Shelby to 27 total yards—the fewest in state championship game history, regardless of division—and posted 10 tackles for a loss of yardage, including five sacks. DIVISION IIAVON 37CIN. ANDERSON 20CANTON – Blake Elder completed 12-of-18 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns and Quiante Smith ran 31 times for 180 yards and a score to lead Avon to a 37-20 win over Cincinnati Anderson and its second straight Division II state championship.Avon (14-1) is the first repeat Division II state champion since Akron Archbishop Hoban in 2017 and 2018. The Eagles have won 30 of 31 games over the past two seasons.Anderson (14-1) was making its fourth championship game appearance. The Raptors have finished runner-up three times (2008, 2024, 2025) to go along with a Division II state title in 2007.Elder's four touchdown passes, all of which came in the first half, tied a Division II state championship game. His counterpart, Anderson's Owen Scalf, set Division II championship game records for completions and passing yards; he finished 32-of-47 for 376 yards and two touchdowns.